1 00:00:00,080 --> 00:00:02,880 Speaker 1: We know that the federal government say that they're positioning 2 00:00:02,880 --> 00:00:06,880 Speaker 1: Australia to lead on the production of critical minerals, promoting 3 00:00:07,000 --> 00:00:10,920 Speaker 1: key territory projects to global investors. Now the government's launched 4 00:00:10,920 --> 00:00:15,840 Speaker 1: this new Australian Critical Minerals Prospectus, highlighting forty nine minds 5 00:00:15,880 --> 00:00:20,360 Speaker 1: and twenty nine midstream critical minerals processing projects across the 6 00:00:20,400 --> 00:00:24,640 Speaker 1: country that are all ready for investment, including several significant 7 00:00:24,680 --> 00:00:27,920 Speaker 1: projects in the Northern Territory. Now joining us on the 8 00:00:27,960 --> 00:00:31,040 Speaker 1: line is Catherine Tilmouth, the head of the Minerals Council 9 00:00:31,080 --> 00:00:33,120 Speaker 1: of Australia's Northern Territory branch. 10 00:00:33,440 --> 00:00:36,800 Speaker 2: Good morning to you, Cat, Good morning Katie. 11 00:00:36,920 --> 00:00:38,240 Speaker 1: Lovely to have you on the show. 12 00:00:38,440 --> 00:00:38,599 Speaker 2: Now. 13 00:00:38,640 --> 00:00:41,000 Speaker 1: Look, I'll get to that major announcement in just a 14 00:00:41,040 --> 00:00:45,640 Speaker 1: moment's time. But kat obviously we heard the tragic news 15 00:00:45,720 --> 00:00:49,239 Speaker 1: that flowed through yesterday. Man had lost his life on 16 00:00:49,320 --> 00:00:54,160 Speaker 1: Wednesday afternoon out at neumont. Have there been any updates 17 00:00:54,160 --> 00:00:57,240 Speaker 1: at this point in time? How's the industry feeling. 18 00:00:58,880 --> 00:01:02,960 Speaker 2: Look that investigation is ongoing. It'd be quite thorough, so 19 00:01:03,120 --> 00:01:05,319 Speaker 2: I think it will be a bit of time until 20 00:01:05,360 --> 00:01:08,480 Speaker 2: we find out the exact details. But I just want 21 00:01:08,480 --> 00:01:11,600 Speaker 2: to highlight you know, safety is definitely the highest priority 22 00:01:11,880 --> 00:01:15,480 Speaker 2: for the mining industry, and it's just such a tragic event. 23 00:01:16,040 --> 00:01:19,640 Speaker 2: Like I'm a Territorian like Uktie, we all know somebody 24 00:01:19,959 --> 00:01:22,480 Speaker 2: who works at a mine, or somebody who knows somebody 25 00:01:22,480 --> 00:01:24,479 Speaker 2: who works at a mine, and a lot of them 26 00:01:24,520 --> 00:01:28,840 Speaker 2: actually in down in Tanami as well, So you know, 27 00:01:29,000 --> 00:01:33,440 Speaker 2: our thoughts compares are definitely with this person's family and colleagues, 28 00:01:34,040 --> 00:01:37,199 Speaker 2: and the industry is just taking a moment to really 29 00:01:37,240 --> 00:01:39,520 Speaker 2: reflect on this as well. Yeah. 30 00:01:39,560 --> 00:01:42,520 Speaker 1: Absolutely, I said on here yesterday. You know, as somebody 31 00:01:42,560 --> 00:01:45,360 Speaker 1: who grew up in a big mining town, I know 32 00:01:45,720 --> 00:01:49,000 Speaker 1: the impact of something like this is so wide reaching 33 00:01:49,040 --> 00:01:53,600 Speaker 1: and it's such a tragic situation. Kat, Do we have 34 00:01:53,640 --> 00:01:56,880 Speaker 1: any idea how long the operations at that mine are 35 00:01:56,920 --> 00:01:58,880 Speaker 1: expected to remain suspended? 36 00:02:00,200 --> 00:02:04,080 Speaker 2: Not at this point. They will probably make some further 37 00:02:04,160 --> 00:02:07,080 Speaker 2: announcements because they obviously have the crew out there that 38 00:02:07,200 --> 00:02:10,000 Speaker 2: need to know. But I don't think they're rushing anything 39 00:02:10,040 --> 00:02:13,200 Speaker 2: at this point. The investigators need to have that access 40 00:02:13,240 --> 00:02:15,480 Speaker 2: to be able to do their job as well. So 41 00:02:15,520 --> 00:02:19,640 Speaker 2: I think the priority is supporting their staff finding out 42 00:02:19,639 --> 00:02:23,920 Speaker 2: what's happened. And then I think so the doubt is 43 00:02:23,960 --> 00:02:25,840 Speaker 2: the business part of that as well. 44 00:02:26,080 --> 00:02:30,040 Speaker 1: Well, look, my thoughts are certainly you know, with that 45 00:02:30,160 --> 00:02:33,400 Speaker 1: man's family and friends and work colleagues at this point 46 00:02:33,440 --> 00:02:36,840 Speaker 1: in time, Catherine, I'll move along. I know that this 47 00:02:37,120 --> 00:02:40,520 Speaker 1: announcement by the Federal government earlier in the week will 48 00:02:40,560 --> 00:02:43,440 Speaker 1: they say that they're positioning Australia to lead on the 49 00:02:43,440 --> 00:02:46,960 Speaker 1: production of critical minerals. What does this announcement mean for 50 00:02:47,080 --> 00:02:48,760 Speaker 1: Northern Territory projects. 51 00:02:49,960 --> 00:02:53,560 Speaker 2: Well, this is a really really big step for some 52 00:02:53,600 --> 00:02:57,440 Speaker 2: of the projects in the Northern Territory. It's pretty much 53 00:02:57,560 --> 00:03:00,560 Speaker 2: just the catalog saying if you've got them, you want 54 00:03:00,600 --> 00:03:03,440 Speaker 2: to invest in in some of the projects in Australia 55 00:03:03,440 --> 00:03:05,600 Speaker 2: and especially in the NT. Here they are, here are 56 00:03:05,600 --> 00:03:08,880 Speaker 2: the details of them, come on down. But this is 57 00:03:08,880 --> 00:03:12,000 Speaker 2: all part of the partnership that the US has made 58 00:03:12,040 --> 00:03:15,440 Speaker 2: with Australia. But you know they fign that framework back 59 00:03:15,600 --> 00:03:21,160 Speaker 2: last October. That is shoring up the critical minerals and 60 00:03:21,200 --> 00:03:24,359 Speaker 2: the rarer that the world needs for all of their 61 00:03:24,360 --> 00:03:29,519 Speaker 2: technology and mobile phones, medical equipment, defense and energy sort 62 00:03:29,560 --> 00:03:33,600 Speaker 2: of technology. And it's really just saying we in Australia 63 00:03:33,639 --> 00:03:36,480 Speaker 2: were in the Northern Territory, we have you know this 64 00:03:36,560 --> 00:03:40,280 Speaker 2: abundance of this resource that you need. We're looking at 65 00:03:40,440 --> 00:03:46,440 Speaker 2: being sustainable and being able to process our own resources, 66 00:03:46,520 --> 00:03:50,320 Speaker 2: So come down and invest here. You know, the big 67 00:03:50,360 --> 00:03:53,480 Speaker 2: point about all of these sort of moves is about 68 00:03:54,720 --> 00:03:58,320 Speaker 2: lessening the reliance that the industry and the world need 69 00:03:58,440 --> 00:04:01,800 Speaker 2: has on China when it comes to rare roots and 70 00:04:01,880 --> 00:04:04,760 Speaker 2: it comes to the processing. You know, you don't want 71 00:04:04,800 --> 00:04:07,360 Speaker 2: to be vulnerable and in need of some of these 72 00:04:08,600 --> 00:04:13,600 Speaker 2: commodities and then just have one one nation that's just 73 00:04:13,680 --> 00:04:19,320 Speaker 2: dictating how much and you know how expensive these products 74 00:04:19,360 --> 00:04:19,880 Speaker 2: are going to be. 75 00:04:20,080 --> 00:04:21,760 Speaker 1: Yeah, well, and there seems to be sort of that 76 00:04:22,080 --> 00:04:23,640 Speaker 1: a bit of a push I guess, or a bit 77 00:04:23,640 --> 00:04:25,840 Speaker 1: of a move away from China. But is that going 78 00:04:25,839 --> 00:04:28,680 Speaker 1: to be to our detrimentalor you know, how do you 79 00:04:28,680 --> 00:04:31,480 Speaker 1: think it'll fare? I guess for our northern territory minds. 80 00:04:32,880 --> 00:04:36,920 Speaker 2: Look as China itself has has a fair like an 81 00:04:36,920 --> 00:04:42,880 Speaker 2: abundance of critical minerals and rarest in their Orange Country, 82 00:04:43,200 --> 00:04:46,159 Speaker 2: But it's the processing. We do a lot of what 83 00:04:46,360 --> 00:04:50,080 Speaker 2: is you know, historically called dig and ship mining in Australia. 84 00:04:50,160 --> 00:04:52,679 Speaker 2: So a lot of this is a push towards making 85 00:04:52,680 --> 00:04:56,320 Speaker 2: sure that we have these midstream processing facilities in Australia 86 00:04:56,360 --> 00:05:00,240 Speaker 2: as well. It's about increasing sovereign capability, so not just 87 00:05:00,279 --> 00:05:02,800 Speaker 2: happening to sell off to a country like China and 88 00:05:02,839 --> 00:05:05,839 Speaker 2: then buy the end product back, being able to get 89 00:05:05,880 --> 00:05:09,320 Speaker 2: closer to that end use where you can actually dictate 90 00:05:09,400 --> 00:05:13,240 Speaker 2: the terms, conditions and costs, et cetera here in Australia. 91 00:05:13,279 --> 00:05:16,920 Speaker 1: So cat what mines in the Northern Territory are a focus, 92 00:05:16,960 --> 00:05:19,480 Speaker 1: you know, following on from this announcement earlier in the week. 93 00:05:20,480 --> 00:05:23,840 Speaker 2: Look, we've already got our fewer resources Nolan's Rare Earth 94 00:05:23,960 --> 00:05:29,400 Speaker 2: project that was part of the partnership Framework or announce 95 00:05:29,440 --> 00:05:32,680 Speaker 2: and partnership framework last October. But on the list you've 96 00:05:32,680 --> 00:05:37,560 Speaker 2: also got Castile down closer to ten and Creek Finnis Colisseum, 97 00:05:37,760 --> 00:05:42,000 Speaker 2: which we're all quite familiar with. In Darwin, you've got 98 00:05:42,360 --> 00:05:46,279 Speaker 2: Rover One which is also a Castele project, and Winchester 99 00:05:46,520 --> 00:05:49,440 Speaker 2: which is a bit further north of us here which 100 00:05:49,440 --> 00:05:50,599 Speaker 2: is a Magnesia medal. 101 00:05:51,040 --> 00:05:54,880 Speaker 1: And ill with this situation now and with billions sort 102 00:05:54,880 --> 00:05:58,400 Speaker 1: of committed through reserves, you've got facilities and tax incentives, 103 00:05:58,640 --> 00:06:02,160 Speaker 1: how soon could territory expect to see sort of investment 104 00:06:02,279 --> 00:06:06,040 Speaker 1: turn into operating mines and processing plants. 105 00:06:07,360 --> 00:06:10,039 Speaker 2: Look, it's almost like it's so close you could touch 106 00:06:10,080 --> 00:06:13,880 Speaker 2: it sometimes when you hear these hear these announcements. We've 107 00:06:13,920 --> 00:06:17,680 Speaker 2: definitely got the correct geology, We've definitely found what we need, 108 00:06:17,720 --> 00:06:21,120 Speaker 2: We've got the projects, we've got the interest critical minerals 109 00:06:21,120 --> 00:06:23,680 Speaker 2: and raress is that you know, topic that everyone likes 110 00:06:23,720 --> 00:06:26,440 Speaker 2: to talk about for the Northern Territory. It's just making 111 00:06:26,440 --> 00:06:29,560 Speaker 2: sure that we've got the infrastructure in place that we 112 00:06:29,640 --> 00:06:32,000 Speaker 2: need to get those products out of the ground and 113 00:06:32,080 --> 00:06:35,600 Speaker 2: to market. We've got the energy supply that we need 114 00:06:35,680 --> 00:06:38,159 Speaker 2: out in these remote regional areas. And you know, that's 115 00:06:38,200 --> 00:06:42,240 Speaker 2: why projects like the Beadler were really important, you know, 116 00:06:42,320 --> 00:06:46,080 Speaker 2: to get that gas providing electricity for these remote areas. 117 00:06:46,880 --> 00:06:48,360 Speaker 2: And you've also got to make sure that we've got 118 00:06:48,400 --> 00:06:52,839 Speaker 2: the workforce that is able to come down and work 119 00:06:53,120 --> 00:06:55,520 Speaker 2: and get these projects really moving. 120 00:06:55,680 --> 00:06:57,800 Speaker 1: And I mean in terms of once they do get 121 00:06:57,880 --> 00:07:00,280 Speaker 1: up and going, once we see this happening, what kind 122 00:07:00,279 --> 00:07:02,680 Speaker 1: of impact is it going to have for the Northern Territory. 123 00:07:02,680 --> 00:07:04,080 Speaker 1: You know, you touched on it then in terms of 124 00:07:04,120 --> 00:07:07,120 Speaker 1: the workforce, but more broadly in terms of the economy. 125 00:07:07,960 --> 00:07:10,440 Speaker 2: Look, we've actually done a big study that we did 126 00:07:10,560 --> 00:07:14,080 Speaker 2: last year and it's culminated in a national campaign. I 127 00:07:14,120 --> 00:07:15,920 Speaker 2: think some of your listeners may have heard some of 128 00:07:15,960 --> 00:07:19,960 Speaker 2: our most recent ads from the National Minerals Council talking 129 00:07:20,000 --> 00:07:22,600 Speaker 2: about how much tax is paid. But in the end 130 00:07:22,600 --> 00:07:25,800 Speaker 2: t alone, when we did our study, we found, you know, 131 00:07:25,840 --> 00:07:28,880 Speaker 2: the numbers of things like we've had two hundred and 132 00:07:28,920 --> 00:07:32,920 Speaker 2: fifty seven million dollars go towards wages and salaries. You know, 133 00:07:33,320 --> 00:07:35,680 Speaker 2: the average salary being around one hundred and seventy five 134 00:07:35,720 --> 00:07:37,600 Speaker 2: thousand dollars a year, so that's not bad at all. 135 00:07:38,160 --> 00:07:41,520 Speaker 2: We've got a fifty one percent local workforce across the board. 136 00:07:42,560 --> 00:07:46,080 Speaker 2: Though we did the job numbers found that one job 137 00:07:46,240 --> 00:07:50,200 Speaker 2: in mining creates three more in the industry and six 138 00:07:50,280 --> 00:07:54,240 Speaker 2: more in the local communities. So you know, seven hundred 139 00:07:54,280 --> 00:07:57,760 Speaker 2: and seventy territory businesses we're supplying things for the mines, 140 00:07:57,840 --> 00:08:00,320 Speaker 2: and you know that equated to about six hundred ninety 141 00:08:00,360 --> 00:08:04,480 Speaker 2: one million dollars going into the to the economy just 142 00:08:04,520 --> 00:08:07,400 Speaker 2: for goods and services from local businesses. So you know 143 00:08:07,480 --> 00:08:11,360 Speaker 2: that ripple and flow on effect from a project it has, 144 00:08:11,560 --> 00:08:15,160 Speaker 2: it has a huge economic impact. And this is outside 145 00:08:15,200 --> 00:08:18,560 Speaker 2: of royalties. This was not taking into consideration the taxes 146 00:08:18,600 --> 00:08:21,440 Speaker 2: and royalties that these projects have to pay to the 147 00:08:21,440 --> 00:08:22,320 Speaker 2: government anyway. 148 00:08:22,440 --> 00:08:25,160 Speaker 1: Yeah right, Oh well, I guess a time will tell 149 00:08:25,320 --> 00:08:29,240 Speaker 1: just how quickly things can get moving. Catherine Tillmouth, the 150 00:08:29,280 --> 00:08:33,480 Speaker 1: head of the Minerals Council of Australia's Northern Territory branch, 151 00:08:33,600 --> 00:08:35,840 Speaker 1: thank you, as always for having a chat with us 152 00:08:35,840 --> 00:08:37,400 Speaker 1: this morning. I really appreciate it. 153 00:08:38,120 --> 00:08:39,920 Speaker 2: No worries, Katie, thank you, thank you.